Wichita eagle., 1887-11-11
A TARANTULA HUNT.
CAPTURING GIGANTIC SPIDERS IN
THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY.
Outfit for the Spider Hunt-Specimens
Enough to Stock the Whole United
states-Found in the Gopher Holes-A
Few Facts.

states-Found in the Gopher Holes-A
Few Facts.
The genius Of this expedition showed me his
snuggery, as he called it, which would have
given q nervous person the horrors. The
room was literally walled with tarantulas.
Fully bushel of the monsters were pinned
up around the room, or stretched upon boards
leaning against the walls in every conceivable
position, all dead and stuffed. The outfit for
the spider hunt consisted of hoe or two,
demijohn of water to drown the monsters out,
and several boxes to confine them IN.
Thus provided, tue horses heads were
turned down the San Gabriel valley, toward
the old mission Of that name. The road
winds through orange groves, taking Us by
ranches and places where we catch glimpses
of the strange possibilities of this wonderful
climate. The banana grows side by side with
the apple, the lime, tamarind, guava, fig,
date, palm, pear, fir, eucalyptus, sequoia,
cedar of Lebanon and many more, represent
ing all the Aoral belts
There" said my companion, pointing TO a
stretch of clear country that reached up
towards the hills, lis patch that contains
spiders enough to stock the whole United
States"
The horses were fastened. to live oak, the
hoes and demijohn were shouldered, and soon
we were in the haunts of the tarantula. Tie
ground had not been plowed for years and
appeared to be partly adobe, with here and
there the yellow earth so common and rich
in the valley. The inevitable gopher was
everywhere apparent, here by his holes or
burrows and there by the same that had but
recently been filed from belOw-a trick tho
gopher is well up to. 1t is said that a new
conner in southern California always deter
mines to drown out the gopheIs, and pro-
ceeds to put the garden hose into a burrow
md turn on the water. | confess once to
have attempted this myself.
IN THE GOPHER HOLES.
Keep your eyes on the gopher holes, said
my companion, land when you see u web
over one let me know"
He was the first, however, to make a dis
covery. On the edge of a hole appeared
the empty skin OF a tarantula, the inmate
having evidently jus: shed its coat The
5emijohn was uncOrked, stream directed III,
and in half minute out rushed hairy
monster, it's bristles, for such they seemed,
cleaning with crystal drops. BE paused at
the opening and brushed away the water, ap-
parently astonished, and then, evidently
catching sight Of the enemy, darted of IN
numbering spider canter over the stubbie.
The beat was short one. and he made for
cover, falling into the tin prison placed in his
way This spider was of dark red hue and
had a spread OF six inches.
In a short walk from here another hole was
found, also that Of a gopher or a kangaroo
rat. which showed ''tarnntula signs, and hal
a web across the entrance. A quart Of water
produced no spider. 50 the hoe was brought
into play. and two feet down q sleepy, dusty
spider appeared, evidently very much amazed
a. being dug out 50 uncoremnniously. The
water had not reached him. having gone OK
in an opposite direction through side shoot
This spider resemblei the other except ii
color and It's feet, tina. IS from casual observa-
ton Its color Was black and is feet were
simply pads, without what any unscicnt!hc
person would call a toe, that was par. II
the foot ornamentation Of the other. When
thoroughly aroused and teased il showed De
cided signs Of anger and retaliation. biting
ferceiy at q stick. yet Il would have IT.
treated il this had been allowed
HABITS CT The 1AgAsTULA
In an acre large nuEaocT q tarantulas
were found. some very ugly, others very
mid but ell = 4 rule. very vicious, hlceous
and coward.y IL would seeTn taa'. lfl.s many
other animals, they ere prO~eEs, taxing Up
with the holes o. other animals a. taeiT
bones and. according 20 mr. companion,
filing them up y suit tbeir wants aid ever
ing them I'D during ;5e day or csos.as tie
entrance with : ligbt web, coming on, PER
hsus at nish, or toward night % wayiay
other snail animals From the fact t6a- NJ
u.eyouS remains e ta-a-t.s3-s we're found IN
the ness, my companion inferred la they
were cannibais ami lived upon oDe sRcth@-.
bet think -has : nc. zEolly tEue, z-c -
disnera1ered part were often biz Of Cd d4s~
carried noCii. TINS sys5eT IS largs sEcag4
70 deal With a hurnrzirE bird vita ease, or
/. snail snsrvoz. ana ! b~ssve 'hzi ]; prsys
uroa La--e insects. E=ar1s, perhaps, ~ Gay
game * en- ob;air. NJ companion Esd ot-
ser~esi ere eTsientiy eating Minute pant.
and p@rharS tcess sEccu5en- bI.s c. vegetable
matter --e-e cals - - tasse.
IL IS the general IMPRESSION n CAlt2ral.
ausony tho=e TzrS1ns who have Eos mate %.
subS-c. special .sofy. That ;se ts-sntai.. ~
caI.si. Is trap door sysesr. azsd IL al tie CO.
rscz5-y shops where tie curious traps are for
81 ~ :=-ssas.lA = Sod - Ia t,asLA~< s-s 1